Grant, Granton, Clark Co., WI

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John Coyle/Coil was born January 10, 1826 in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania.  He married Almira Cory on June 29, 1851 in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania.

He served as a Private in Co. A, 56th PA Infantry.  56th Regiment, Pennsylvania Infantry's 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 5th Army Corps, Army of the Potomac which was organized at Camp Curtin in Harrisburg in September of 1864.  This company served in the Siege of Petersburg until April 2, 1865 and at Poplar Springs Church from September 29-October 2nd.  October 27-28 they were at the Boydton Plank Road, Hatcher's Run and December 7-12th participated in Warren's Raid on the Weldon Railroad December 7-12th.  February 5-7, they fought at Dabney's Mills, Hatcher's Run.  They next fought in the Appomattox Campaign March 28-April 9, at Lewis Farm near Gravelly Run March 29 and Boydton and White Oak Road March 31st. April 1, the were at Five Forks and the Fall of Petersburg on April 2, 1865.  They fought at Appomattox C. H. April 9th and witnessed the surrender of Lee and his army before marching to Washington, D. C., May 2-12 and attending the Grand Review May 23, 1865. 

Grand Review in Washington D. C., May 23, 1865

Grand Review

Through the years, a story about John being wounded while serving in the Civil War was passed down from generation to generation.  According to the family account, President Abraham Lincoln visited the hospital where John was recuperating and asked him, "What's the matter soldier, you wounded?"  John's Civil War Pension Application File indicated he was wounded March 31, 1865 or April 1, 1865 in action in the vicinity of Five Forks, Md.  He suffered a gun shot wound to the right leg.  The action at Five Forks was followed by the fall of nearby Petersburg on April 2, 1865.  Lincoln and Grant rode into Petersburg on April 3, 1865, so it is possible Lincoln visited a field hospital shortly after John's injury.
 

John Coyle/Coil died September 9, 1903 and is buried in the Windfall Cemetery, Grant township, Clark Co., Wisconsin.

His wife Almira is also found in Clark County in 1905 and 1910.  She died August 30, 1914.

Census Records

The family has been found in census records during the following years and locations:

1880, 1890 (veteran's schedule), 1900 - Clark County, Wisconsin
 

John and Almira had 6 or 7 children (census records vary):  Frederick, Harriett (later Harriett or "Hattie" Hayden), Walter, John, Edgar, Edward, and Ella (later Ella Warner).  I'm still working on sorting out all of the children and tracing them through later census records.

Family Links

Harriet E. Coyle, also known as Coil the daughter of John Coyle and Almira (Cory) Coyle.  She was first married to John Franklin Sweet and had 2 sons by this marriage; Stephen and Franklin Sweet. Brenda J. Maste.